Tonia Loran-Galban retires after 31 years at Ganondagan

 After 31 years, Tonia Loran-Galban has retired from her position of Senior Native Interpretive Guide.

Since 1991, Tonia Loran-Galban (Mohawk, Bear Clan) has been one of the cheerful faces waiting to greet you on your visit to Ganondagan. Her friendly open manner, and passion for sharing Haudenosaunee history and culture has made her an irreplaceable asset to the site.

Over her 30+ years of service at Ganondagan, Tonia was instrumental in supporting Ganondagan’s growth. When Tonia began in 1991, she was a "jack of all trades" doing both interpretive walks with visitors on the trails as well as site maintenance and mowing. When the site began building its 17^th century style Seneca Bark Longhouse, Tonia shifted her focus learning about 17^th century material culture so the longhouse could be furnished and interpreted to students, families and visitors from all over the world.

It was during this period that Tonia recognized a gap in contemporary basketmaking, almost no one from the Haudenosaunee communities was making the utility baskets such as corn sifting and washing baskets. Those that were being made were not accurate for 17^th century interpretation. Through study and determination, Tonia was able to replicate early examples of these baskets which became part of Ganondagan’s exhibit. Additionally, Tonia began to teach traditional basket making to other basket makers within the Haudenosaunee communities.

The Seneca Art and Culture Center (2015) which features changing exhibits, contemporary art, and a wider timeline than the Seneca Bark Longhouse was another catalyst for Tonia to expand her knowledge as she trained staff and docents, helped design exhibits, create material culture reproductions for the exhibits and interpret these to the public. During her tenure, Tonia helped establish the gardens (she plans to continue to assist with a children's garden), new interpretive trails, and worked to re-establish indigenous plants on the site. These gardens help supply materials to create 17^th reproductions and serve to help the public understand the connection of ecology and the Haudenosaunee people.

 “Ganondagan gave me a sense of wellbeing because what I was learning was not widely known amongst my people. I realized that Ganondagan was the whole package for me, I raised my family here; I could work and be able to go home for ceremonies. It brought me in front of many of the elders that have passed on and allowed me to have conversations with them, learn and share with them. The next generation only knows them by name but I got to learn from them.”

Tonia’s retirement plans include travel, study, and supporting her family. “People know me as a basketmaker and storyteller. I want to continue basketmaking, learning alternative materials for baskets and containers (as the Emerald Ash Borer is making Black Ash more difficult to find), teaching about wampum belts, but also expanding my work in beadwork and sculpting with plant materials.”

Former site manager, Peter Jemison says of Tonia “When Tonia first came to Ganondagan, she had no experience as an interpreter, but she learned and honed those skills. She was shown how to weave baskets but she really taught herself the craft of basketmaking and she now excels at it, producing beautiful work. Tonia has been instrumental in the care and upkeep of our Seneca Bark Longhouse and the adjacent gardens. She will be missed, and it is now up to the next generation of interpreters to continue on her work. Ganondagan offers a tremendous opportunity for learning.”

We at Ganondagan look forward to continuing to collaborate with Tonia through the Creative’s Rebuild New York Artist Employment grant. It is not goodbye, dëjihnyadadegë' ae' (we will see each other again)!